'Lucky Ink' Gift and Body Art Shop Gives Local Artists a Platform

Dawn Cosnotti Morris has turned her love of art, charity and all things local into a new business on Broad Street in Sewickley.

“lucky ink.” at 422 Broad St., officially opens today and features an array of gift items, jewelry, clothing, bags, candles, key chains, dolls, art and all-around hip items that are either made locally or in the United States. A door separates the boutique from the body art shop, which Morris said is the first in the village of Sewickley. 

“We have something for everybody,” said Morris, of , who owns the shop with her husband Carl.

Located in a space previously occupied by , the sells a mishmash of unique items, from designer hula-hoops and yoga mat bags to balms and oils for muscle pains and creatively-fired pottery by Pittsburgh's Marlene Boyle.

“She wraps fern fronds around them,” Morris said of the potter, “and she buries them in saw dust and fires them so when she takes the pots out they leave natural impressions on them."

A signature line in the store includes items from model and designer Lauren Bush’s “FEED” project. Shoppers who purchase a travel bag, for example, can help feed one child in a third-world country.

Higher-end items include the jewelry lines by Pittsburgh's LeFawn Barefoot, Brooklyn's Shanna Snash. lucky ink. also carries lanterns from Pittsburgh-based Boom Room; Una Biologicals, an organic skin care line and teas made by a Pittsburgh woman; and writing journals crafted by a Cranberry Township woman who assembles them using old books. 

“Some of the jewelry, the FEED bags, and the clothes obviously are from national companies…but most is local,” Morris said.

Morris said the store will eventually donate a portion of proceeds to local charities. She also wants to help support local artists by featuring their works, starting with photographer M. Phillip Sam.

Morris said she believes Sewickley needs more young, hip establishments that appeal to a younger demographic in order to sustain itself. She realizes some people might be put off by a body art shop, but she’s hoping once people see the boutique for themselves, their minds will change.

“We felt like we needed to bring more younger, hip things to town," she said.

The body art shop is open by appointment only. Cyco Mike, who formerly worked at Island Avenue in McKees Rocks, is the tattoo artist. Morris said his work speaks for itself.  

“He does have a reputation for being one of the best artists in the city,” Morris said. “Mike is crazy talented…he’s really, really good.”

After finalizing the building permits, the Morris's spent the next six weeks remodeling the interior. She wanted people to see first-hand the atmosphere of the new store, which has new paint, floors, windows, wiring and more. Even some of the furniture was made locally, thanks to Sewickley designer April McBain from

This isn’t Morris’ first time in business. She launched on Beaver Street but later sold the shop when her family moved to Florida. Last year, she planned to open a home-decorating business, but when a similar shop opened in Sewickley, she revamped that plan.

Her idea has now come to fruition with a formal grand opening planned for March 31.

lucky ink. is open Monday through Saturday, with tattooing available by appointment Tuesday through Saturday. To book an appointment email dawn@lucky-ink.com. Visit lucky-ink.com or on Facebook.